Life Accelerated

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine is joined by four industry leaders from the Life Accelerated Summit: Richard Wiedenbeck , Principal Consultant at Avatar Solutions LLC ; John Brabazon , CFO at SBLI ; Matthew Busbee , Chief Data Officer at Pan-American Life Insurance ; and Sheriff Balogun Jr. , Head of Insurance and Wealth Technology at MassMutual . Together, they explore the current and fu...

Welcome to Life Accelerated. Our show explores how life insurers are approaching continuous digital transformation, emphasizing that it's not a short-term project but an ongoing journey. Through this podcast, insurance leaders will gain insights on how to adapt to changing consumer expectations, leverage technology effectively, and drive long-term transformation that keeps their organizations comp...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Kevin Cummer , Director, Life Products Management, and Nick Rohan , Director, Partner Management from TruStage , about how the company is rethinking life insurance for the middle market. TruStage has evolved from its roots in the credit union space to expand distribution through strategic partnerships, making life insurance more accessible to un...

What does it really take to lead a technology company through the complexities of life insurance transformation? In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Luis Romero , CEO of Equisoft , about his journey in modernizing life insurance systems and embracing AI. Luis reflects on how Equisoft evolved from a custom software developer to a leader in life insurance technology solutions, highl...

What does it really take to run insurance contact centres at scale without losing trust? In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Emily LeMay , Co-Head of Individual Markets at Global Atlantic , about what she has learned leading and supporting contact centre teams across the insurance industry. Emily walks through how early roles shaped her view of service operations, and why strong f...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine chats with David Ditillo , CIO of Corebridge Financial , about the large-scale changes that followed Corebridge's separation from AIG. David explains how the company rebuilt its technology foundation while ensuring customers and partners continued to receive reliable service, whether by migrating to the cloud or rolling out new systems. You'll hear Corebrid...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine reflects on the key themes and insights from the 2025 season of Life Accelerated. Throughout the year, the podcast covered the evolving role of technology in the life insurance industry, from the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) to the necessity of data modernization. Olivier looks back at conversations on standardization to build trust across the sec...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with  Adrian Webb , Executive Chairman of OutcomePath , about the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the insurance industry. Adrian breaks down how AI transforms insurance operations, from improving fraud detection to automating complex processes. He discusses the practicalities of scaling AI responsibly, weighing its opportunities and...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with David Whitehead , Senior Vice President of Retirement Services Sales and Marketing, and Kyle Ryan , Vice President of Retirement Services Operations from Reliance Standard Life . Together, they reflect on leading multi-year transformations that reshaped how the business manages policies, distribution, and customer service. David and Kyle discuss...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Ann Mengelson-Clark , Vice President of Technology at Kuvare , and Chief Technology Officer at Guaranty Income Life , United Life , and Lincoln Benefit Life on Kuvare's journey of growth and digital transformation. Ann explains that Kuvare evolved from its early acquisitions to exploring new technologies for core systems, while restructuring tea...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Amanda Turcotte , SVP and Chief Actuary at Amalgamated Life Insurance Company , and Darwin Larrison , VP and Chief Information Security Officer at Modern Woodmen of America , about how their teams are navigating the changing landscape of artificial intelligence in life insurance. Amanda shares how her company is applying tools like Amazon Q and...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine sits down with Yolanda Austin , Senior Director of the Life & Annuity Program at ACORD , to talk about the organization's role in building smarter, standardized systems for life insurance. Yolanda breaks down how ACORD is addressing inefficiencies in medical underwriting by creating digital formats for electronic health records. She also walks through the w...

In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine speaks with Bill Pappas , EVP and Head of Global Technology and Operations at MetLife, about how MetLife is operationalizing transformation at scale, and what that means for the future of the life insurance sector. Bill outlines the pillars of MetLife's new enterprise strategy, New Frontier, and walks through the company's investment in simplifying infrastr...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Olivier LaFontaine welcomes Joe Maringer , SVP and National Sales Manager at MassMutual Ascend to explore how annuity distribution is being reshaped by digital transformation and shifting market dynamics. Joe discusses how MassMutual Ascend is adapting to today's market by investing in technology to streamline advisor workflows, simplify purchases, and enh...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Olivier LaFontaine sits down with Andrew Kramer , VP and Head of Underwriting Risk & Innovation of M Financial Group, to discuss how innovation is reshaping underwriting and risk management in life insurance. Andrew breaks down the innovative steps M Financial Group is taking to streamline underwriting processes, from embracing electronic health records to...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Olivier LaFontaine sits down with Michael New , Chief Technology Officer at ClearView, to explore the realities of large-scale digital transformation in life insurance.   Michael shares his experiences leading ClearView's migration to a modern policy admin platform, tackling legacy system challenges, and ensuring data readiness for a seamless transition. A...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O'Donnell introduces Olivier Lafontaine , Equisoft's Chief Product Officer, as the new host of the podcast.  Olivier shares his perspective on the unique challenges facing life insurance carriers, from navigating 20-year transformation timelines to achieving vendor independence and embracing generative AI. He highlights how low-code/no-code solutio...

In this special episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O'Donnell revisits thought-provoking conversations with some of the most influential leaders in the life insurance industry during 2024. These discussions delve into the accelerating pace of technological change and its profound impact on customer expectations, operational efficiency, and employee engagement. Through these dialogues, the ep...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O'Donnell sits down with Karen Leggett, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Manulife, for an insightful look into how AI and digital transformation are reshaping the insurance landscape. With a rich background spanning top leadership roles in banking and insurance, Karen shares how she's leading a customer-centric revolution, integrating AI, advanced...

In this episode of Life Accelerated, host Anthony O'Donnell brings you an illuminating conversation with Richard Wiedenbeck , Chief AI Officer at Ameritas.  With a wealth of experience in the life insurance and technology sectors, Richard has seamlessly transitioned from his role as CIO to his pioneering position as Chief AI Officer. This title alone signifies Ameritas's progressive strides in ado...

Host Anthony O'Donnell sits down with Jean Olive , CIO of John Hancock , to discuss the company's impressive journey towards digital transformation and its focus on enhancing customer experience. Jean shares her engineering background and diverse industry experience, discussing John Hancock's mission to promote long, healthy lives through innovative initiatives like vitality behavioral insurance....

Host Anthony O'Donnell welcomes Niki Manby , Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Mutual of Omaha to share the remarkable journey of the company's digital transformation that has boosted the success of the company.   Niki shares her extensive experience in financial services and fintech, showcasing how she's driving change and ensuring the company remains competitive and customer-focused. They...

Great leaders in digital innovation often start their journey in diverse fields. Dora Clements is an exceptional leader at Unum whose impressive journey from entertainment law to overseeing transformative initiatives at the 175-year-old company is a testament to the potential for multidisciplinary approaches in driving organizational change. Host Anthony O'Donnell speaks with Dora, the Senior Vice...

Host Anthony O'Donnell welcomes back Kevin Cummer , Director of Life Products, and Nick Rohan , Director of Partner Management at TruStage Insurance to share the remarkable journey of TruStage's digital transformation, which has not only redefined their brand but also set new benchmarks in the insurance industry. Kevin and Nick take us through the evolution of TruStage, from its roots as CUNA Mutu...

Jessica Austin Barker , TIAA's Chief Digital and Client Experience Officer, sits down with host Anthony O'Donnell for this latest episode of Life Accelerated. Jessica's acumen, honed through her tenure at Intuit and now as a leader at TIAA, is steering the financial institution toward new horizons of client engagement. Jessica brings a profound understanding of the complexities in the financial an...